Fighters over the Aegean

 The Dodecanese campaign has been the subject of many books, but they tend to focus on the land and naval aspects. The air war is often brushed over with the comment that attempting to hold islands without adequate cover was folly. It was, but that doesn't mean there wasn't an air warfare component. Brian Cull examines the air war across the Aegean in the second half of the war.

The region saw intense aerial engagements between the Allies and Axis forces. These operations were characterised by bombing raids, naval support missions, reconnaissance, and dogfights over islands, the sea, and mainland targets. 

After the failure of the Dodecanese campaign, The RAF and USAAF conducted bombing raids targeting German airfields, supply depots, and shipping lanes to weaken the Axis hold in the region. Long-range aircraft, such as B-24 Liberators and B-25 Mitchells, operated from air bases in Egypt, Cyprus, and later southern Italy. Fighter cover, including Spitfires, Beaufighters, and Hurricanes, was crucial in protecting bombers and supporting ground troops during operations. 

German air superiority during the early part of the campaign was mainly due to the proximity of their airbases and the rapid response of their forces. They utilised a variety of aircraft, including Messerschmitt Bf 109s, and the Stuka still had a role to play in this theatre. The Arado seaplane is another aircraft that came into its own here, and the Ju-52 transport workhorse of the Luftwaffe was crucial in supplying the islands. The Allies eventually achieved air and naval superiority in the Aegean, but the campaign demonstrated the challenges of coordinating joint operations in a geographically complex area.

The author works his way through the various phases, starting with Churchill's obsession, or as Brooke put it, 'He has worked himself into a frenzy of excitement about the Greek islands. He refuses to listen to any arguments or to see the dangers. The whole thing is sheer madness.' The Beaufighter doesn't get many plaudits, but in this region, its range and versatility made it a useful aircraft. They devastated German naval supply craft, forcing the Luftwaffe to fly in Ju-52s at night. Quite a few interned in Turkey, who kept the planes and returned the crews. Several squadrons were based in Cyprus, another WW2 base rarely mentioned, and more were in the Libyan airfields.

252 Squadron Beaufighter (Martin Čížek)

Once Operation Dragoon had finished, seven small carriers were redeployed to the Aegean, unleashing Seafires, Hellcats, and Wildcats on targets in the islands and mainland Greece. The author also outlines Luftwaffe operations, and there is an interesting chapter on the challenges they faced in reconnaissance operations. Radar coverage and RAF night fighters were crucial in protecting the various deception operations prepared across the Middle East.

I am not a huge fan of air warfare books from a readability perspective. Planes take off, shoot down the enemy, and return, which can be tedious. However, the author breaks up this narrative with lots of first-hand accounts. The rarely covered aircraft types are a big plus as well. This book is currently on special offer at the Naval and Military Press. For £3.99, you can't go far wrong.

I definitely need some Beaufighters and Arados for my Blood Red Skies games.